XTL5000 power and mic q's

[Stretchman]

I am programming a couple of XTL5000 radios and am curious as to what power level I can reduce the low power settings to. Currently it's programmed for 22 and 44 and I don't know if it's that way from the factory. It's a reflashed 2500 body with a 5000 head.

Plus, the other unit I am programming has a desk mic, and I am wondering if the mic settings should be left on agc or adjusted for something else. The mic I am using is for the xts, not the xtl, so the buttons don't work, but, I really don't need the buttons, and, to be honest, it's a heavy mic. I haven't gotten around to ordering a new one yet. Trying to get the radios performing well, if possible.

I have 4 other Motorola radios, but 3 are xpr, and a 3000, which isn't the best. I've noticed that using it with a hotspot can be hit or miss. The same is true for my efj5100. I can key up on one round and ber is .2%, and the next go it will be above 4%. Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

Im not a pro, just an amateur, but any pointers I can get, I wouldn't be able to thank you enough for. P25 on ham radio moves in waves, and seems to be getting more active. It definitely has the best audio of any of the modes we use. Shooting for the best we can get.

 

[nokones]

I would leave the mic settings a lone unless you're having a problem with your levels.

For mid-power XTL5000 units I believe 4 watt or 5 watts would be your minimum. I can check that in a few hours when I get home. In most cases, if you set the low power level at 5 watts you may see the actual power with a dummy load at 6 watts and it probably would vary depending the condition of your amplifiers.

I'm curious if your CPS shows that you have the capacity of 1,000 channels?

The type of control head won't have any effect on your power level settings.

 

[MTS2000des]

VHF MP- lowest power is 10 watts
VHF HP- lowest power is 25 watts
UHF MP- lowest power is 4 watts
UHF HP? Don't have one so can't advise

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I would leave the mic settings a lone unless you're having a problem with your levels.

For mid-power XTL5000 units I believe 4 watt or 5 watts would be your minimum. I can check that in a few hours when I get home. In most cases, if you set the low power level at 5 watts you may see the actual power with a dummy load at 6 watts and it probably would vary depending the condition of your amplifiers.

I'm curious if your CPS shows that you have the capacity of 1,000 channels?

The type of control head won't have any effect on your power level settings.

If the radio has been reflashed as an XTL5000, it will support all of the XTL5000 functions. From the OP's post, that is what has been done and not the swap the button membrane carbon jumper around to tell an O5 CH it's a M5 and vise versa trick.

 

[nokones]

VHF MP- lowest power is 10 watts
VHF HP- lowest power is 25 watts
UHF MP- lowest power is 4 watts
UHF HP? Don't have one so can't advise

The high power UHF radio minimum power setting is 24 watts

 

[nokones]

The high power UHF radio minimum power setting is 24 watts

Oops, my mistake. Its 25 watts for the minimum power setting for the High Power UHF Radio.

 

[Stretchman]

Thanks guys.

 

[knockoffham]

Probably too late now but hopefully someone else finds this useful. I believe if in Zone/Channel Assignment you check 'Itinerant Frequency' it reduces the power to 2 watts.

 

[nokones]

Probably too late now but hopefully someone else finds this useful. I believe if in Zone/Channel Assignment you check 'Itinerant Frequency' it reduces the power to 2 watts.

I'm going to have to play with that and see if I check the box for a specific frequency and see if the CPS directs the radio to transmit only 2 watts. I never thought about using that setting/feature.

I don't have to do that for my VHF itinerants because I am authorized 50 watts except for a couple that are restricted to 35 watts.

If that is the case and the power is reduced to 2 watts, I can program the MURS in my XTL2500.

For my XTL5000 UHF radio, I'll be able to program all of my Part 90 UHF freqs

 

[knockoffham]

I'm going to have to play with that and see if I check the box for a specific frequency and see if the CPS directs the radio to transmit only 2 watts. I never thought about using that setting/feature.

I don't have to do that for my VHF itinerants because I am authorized 50 watts except for a couple that are restricted to 35 watts.

If that is the case and the power is reduced to 2 watts, I can program the MURS in my XTL2500.

For my XTL5000 UHF radio, I'll be able to program all of my Part 90 UHF freqs

Sweet. If you’re willing to, throw it on a meter and post the output here. I’ve got MURS and part 90 stuff on mine including the 35 watt itinerants.

 

[nokones]

Sweet. If you’re willing to, throw it on a meter and post the output here. I’ve got MURS and part 90 stuff on mine including the 35 watt itinerants.

I'll take a picture and post tomorrow.

 

[vagrant]

I run my UHF XTL5k at 10 and 40. I use a compromised antenna for that radio though.

 

[nokones]

I'll take a picture and post tomorrow.

Checking the Itinerant Frequency box in the CPS just disabled the transmitter. I tried it on several channels with the feature checked . I even had a ten-watt Bird Slug in my meter and the needle never even flinched. Yes, I did check the other channels to make sure that the meter was working and I was getting 60 watts on high power and 24 on low power, and zero on the Itinerant checked channels.

And to boot, I FL 1-90d my radio. My radios are ignition switched off/on by my factory Aux circuits and during the programming the ignition timed out right in the middle of programming. Now its stuck in the Local Remote and Maintenance Modes. The Motorola don't won't even look at it anymore. I guess it's now a boat anchor or a wheel chalk. I guess it has to be a wheel chalk because I haven't owned a boat in many years.

 

[nokones]

I just connected the affected control head to another Transceiver and the control head and the other transceiver powered up. So, at least the control head still works.